Left: Ben at the Lindley Prairie
Cemetery, Missouri on Memorial Day. His parents and other family
members are buried there.

February - May 2009
- It's hard to believe we're halfway through this year. Thank you
tor those who called to check on us since it's
been that long since the last time we added pictures and an
update. Ben's been kept busy lambing and working dogs. He's organized informational meetings
this spring for landowners in this part of
Oklahoma and Kansas so they would be informed as the power company
puts in a high power transmission line through all of us. Ben is still
limiting it to 4 outside dogs at a time. That's his idea of
retirement. So get your name on the list ahead of time. Big
news for the first of the year was the birth of the first great
grandchild, Avery Kelly, in February. Leslie had a real perk when friend,
Maria Lawson flew down from Calgary, Alberta to work with her for
almost 2 weeks in April. Maria is the past executive
director of the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board. They
got to have a little "girl time" too. Those of you who
have brought dogs, thank you very much for continued support. Folks, those who bring dogs for training, telephone to ask
questions or just visit, those who visit our web site, or those
who
just keep good thoughts for us - all of you are appreciated. Have a
blessed day, Ben and Leslie

Above left
Cowboy Junction's Men's Ministry continues to give assistance
to the elderly and single mother households. Above right the biggest news
of the year - Miss Avery Kelly was born. Our first great
grandbaby! L - R Proud "Grandma" Gwen, Great Grandpa Ben
and first-time Mom Jenny.

Ben rallied the landowners (Oklahoma
and Kansas) scheduling an informational meeting at the Welch Civic
Center this April to give landowners necessary information about
high power transmission line property acquisitions and the
landowner rights. There were well over 100 persons in
attendance. He followed up with another well-attended meeting with
attorneys and land acquisition appraiser in May.

We said goodbye to Miss Perch,
left, February 1993 - April 2009. This one was hard as she
wasn't "sick", but had a bout with a tick-borne bacterial
infection which caused weakness in the rear-end.

Right "Oscar", owned by the Stoney
Humble family, Bluejacket, gets a hoof trimming. Oscar,
a rescue by their daughter when he was just born, has been
raised with the dogs and thinks he is one.

Left Danny Logan, Oklahoma,
picked up Rudy. Above Ben snapped this shot of early
morning playtime. The lambs (Katahdins) think they
are big stuff.

Small group started back up.
We started out with Pastor Rick Warren's 40 Days of Love
study.

Above left Ben and Colton Hess are getting ready to geld Jeffro.
Leslie and Chic back in from an early morning check of the
pasture.

Left Ben working the ram lambs.
Above Maria Lawson, Calgary, Alberta, Ben and Leslie.
Maria flew down to share her organizational and management
expertise with Leslie a couple weeks in April.

Above - Dr. Elizabeth
Fullbright,
Cross 7 Veterinary Clinic, stitches up a young
client's best buddy. Right a serious contestant at
the 3L Rodeo, Big
Cabin, Oklahoma. Folks, if you're passing through on
Saturday night, stop in on this terrific youth rodeo.
Les and Tanya Boatwright and crew put on rodeos and
various clinics for young folks.

Above Ben and Big Goat (he's
the only goat left) purvey their kingdom :>)) Above
right Ben is drying a newborn. Right Ben repairing
high wind damage this spring to the house.

Above a 2006 photo of Jim Farnham,
Arizona, and Leslie. The cow dog world
has lost several of its best this year. Jim left us
in March. John Hearnsberger, Louisiana, and Cotton
Wartchow, Oklahoma passed away in May. A little more
info is on
www.cowdogcentral.com Right Ben and Dub
Richardson, Missouri, visit when Dub and Judy came over to
pick up their Border Collie, Pete.

Gerald and Carol Wehmeyer,
Coffeyville, Kansas pick up their Border Collie.
They run cow/calves and Elk ! They run a hunting
lodge for Elk right there in Kansas near the Oklahoma
state line. You can also run dogs on coyotes.
Check them out at www.trophybulls.com

Storm season in Oklahoma. Leslie shot this while
we were in the car. The clouds kept on going. It had "wisps" but nothing formed that
touched the ground.

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